Multi-handed poker game

ABSTRACT

A card game that is played using a deck of cards comprised of fifty-two poker cards plus two Joker cards for a total of fifty-four cards, where one or more players simultaneously place a wager on, and then move the wagers among, several hands as cards are being dealt to the hands in an attempt to win monies by avoiding the Joker cards, and having their wager resting on the hand that has the highest five card poker ranking once all hands have been dealt five cards.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/866,132 filed Nov. 15, 2006 by the present inventor.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable

SEQUENCE LISTING

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND Prior Art

Games of chance utilizing a standard deck of poker cards (52 cards) have been around for many years and continue to be popular. Although most card games are played informal social/private settings, many of these games are not suitable for formal commercial play. Card games that are too complicated, take too long to play or set-up, use non-standard items, or have odds not favoring the house, are not suitable for casino play.

A major obstacle for a card game to overcome if it is to be played in a casino environment is having an acceptable house edge. The house edge of the card game must be high enough that the casino profits from the players that play it, but not so high that the players feel that they are loosing too much money, or are loosing money too quickly. For example, Red Dog, a game introduced to casinos some years ago, has a very high house edge which suited the casino, but players felt as though it was too tough on them, so the game faded from popularity within a few years and eventually was withdrawn from almost all casinos.

Players will tolerate games with a higher house edge if they feel that; (a) results of play demonstrate that they had a chance to win, but failed to make the proper choice to obtain the win, or (b) the game offers high potential payouts when players are able to win. (Blackjack is an example of an (a) type game. Caribbean Poker is an example of a (b) type game)

Additionally, the entertainment value of a card game is an important factor in keeping players interested in playing, even though it is commonly known that the eventual outcome of wagering on any casino game always favors the casino when played over time.

One form of entertainment value is the perceived ‘luck’ factor. Players feel lucky when they make a play choice that directly results in a win and/or avoids a loss. Also, games that cause the player's bank to rise and fall more severely allow the player to feel as though they have experienced good/bad luck. Another form of entertainment comes from a game that engages the player by offering them varied choices during play. This adds a ‘skill factor’ that allows players to feel as though they can game some advantage if they learn to master game play.

Drama also plays an entertainment role. When players win and/or loose a wager “on the turn of a card” the sudden surprise can create an emotional high/low that can strengthen interest in the game,

Some casino card games also translate well from the table format (dealer, cards and players) to an electronic format (video machine/computer). Games that can be presented in multiple formats (such as black jack, Three Card Poker) appeal to a wider player base and provide casinos with alternate ways to use their floor space and personnel.

There are few successful commercial casino cards games. Those card games that do survive offer the casino the edge it needs, while at the same time engaging and entertaining players, and keeping them coming back for more.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A card game that is played using a deck of cards comprised of fifty-two poker cards plus two Joker cards for a total of fifty-four cards, where one or more players simultaneously place a wager on, and then move the wagers among, several hands as cards are being dealt to the hands in an attempt to win monies by avoiding the Joker cards, and having their wager resting on the hand that has the highest five card poker ranking once all hands have been dealt five cards.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention features a card game played with a deck of fifty-four cards made up of the standard fifty two poker cards plus two Joker cards. The two Jokers, acting as ‘hand killers’, will cause players to loose their wager 14% of the time he/she plays when a Joker card is dealt to a Hand on which a player's wager resides. This house advantage is necessary in order to compensate for the advantage enjoyed by players because they can strategically move their wager from hand-to-hand during play.

To give the players a logical, but restricted choice of movement, the gaming surface is divided into several Hand areas arranged side-by-side (FIG. 1). This side-by-side arrangement facilitates movement from any one Hand to an adjacent Hand. The actual number of Hands areas placed on the gaming surface is up to the dealer/banker, as this will affect the house edge. Six Hand areas seem to optimal, however, more or fewer Hand areas can be deployed in this same side-by-side arrangement. Additionally, variations of the game can employ additional Hand areas not placed side-by-side, providing there are alternate methods for players to move their wagers onto these hands.

Each Hand area is capable of showing five cards face up, and each has an adjoined area to contain wagers associated with the Hand (FIG. 2). Electronic methods showing the amount and location of each player's wager can also be used when table space is at a premium.

Before any cards are dealt, one or more players indicate their willingness to participate by placing an ‘Initial Wager’ on any one of the side-by-side Hands (FIG. 3). Once all Initial Wagers have been placed, play begins as the dealer/banker deals a series of cards, one card face up, to each of the Hands (FIG. 4). If a Joker Card is dealt to a Hand, the Hand (FIGS. 8 & 12) becomes dead, and all wagers resting on the Dead Hand are claimed by the dealer/house. Players loosing their wagers in this manner are out of the game.

Players now have the opportunity to move their wagers. After the 1^(st), 2^(nd), 3^(rd), and 4^(th) series of cards are dealt (FIGS. 4, 6, 8, & 10) players will have the opportunity to move their wager left, right, or leave it where it is. This gives players the chance to reposition their wager up to four times per game (FIGS. 5, 7, 9 & 11).

Each time players receive a chance to move their wager they, may move their wager left or right to an adjacent Hand, but they cannot move wagers onto or over a Dead Hand (see FIGS. 9 & 11). When players do choose to move their wager, they are required to put more monies at risk by increasing their wager by an amount equal to their Initial Wager. Players not wishing to move their wager left or right may; choose to not move their wager (if they have added monies to their wager during play) in which case an amount equal to the player's Initial Wager is removed and kept by the dealer, or they may be required to remove (and keep) their wager from the gaming surface (when their wager is not larger that their Initial Wager)

After players move their wagers the next series of cards are dealt. This move/deal cycle is repeated until all hands have received their fifth and final card (FIG. 12) at which time the game is over.

In order to determine winners and losers, the dealer determines which Hand(s) has the highest five card poker hand ranking (FIG. 13), and this Hand(s) is declared the High Hand. The dealer/bank collects and keeps all wagers not on the High Hand (losers). The remaining players that have their wager resting on the High Hand are Winners.

Winners are returned their current wager, and are also paid additional monies equivalent to their current wager amount multiplied by a value chosen from an Odds Chart (see FIG. 14). The odds chart is a list of entries each representing major poker hand raking categories; such as nothing, low pair, high pair, two pair, three of a kind, etc. Each entry in the Odds Chart has a multiplier value assigned to it. The major poker hand raking of the High Hand determines which entry and subsequent multiplier value is used to calculate the additional monies to be paid to the Winners. The multiplier values shown in FIG. 14 are examples only. The actual multiplier values used are set by the dealer/banker in advance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Drawing 1—Shows the entire gaming surface with the six side-by-side Hand areas and adjoined Wager region.

Drawing 2—Detail of one Hand area showing region for the cards and the adjoined region for the wagers.

Drawing 3—Shows and example of the placement and amounts of Initial Wagers for six players.

Drawing 4—Shows what the gaming surface would look like after the first series of cards are dealt.

Drawing 5—Line and arrows indicates movement direction players take in response to the cards dealt and how the wagers are affected (increased) when moved. Drawing 6—Shows the next (2^(nd)) series of cards dealt with position and amount of player wagers after movement (above)

Drawing 7—As in drawing 5, players again move to adjacent Hands based on the cards now seen and increase their wager if they do choose to move.

Drawing 8—Shows the next (3^(rd)) series of cards dealt. Two players (indicated by X) loose their wagers because of a Joker Card being dealt on their Hand.

Drawing 9—More player movement. Player 1 decides not to move (bet decreased) and Joker card limits movement (players cannot cross the now dead hand).

Drawing 10—Shows the next (4^(th)) series of cards dealt.

Drawing 11—Players again move for the 4^(th) and final time.

Drawing 12—Shows the last (5^(th)) series of cards dealt: Another player (indicated by X) looses his/her wager because of a Joker Card.

Drawing 13—Indicates the hand which has the highest five card poker ranking as evaluated by the dealer. Two of the remaining three players that are not on the High Hand loose their wagers (indicated by X).

Drawing 14—Shows a sample Odds Chart and how it is used to calculate the amount of monies the Winning player receives for being on the High Hand (a high pair). 

1. A method for one or more players to simultaneously play a poker based casino card game in an attempt win monies from a banker/dealer where the layout of the gaming surface provides the players with the opportunity to place a wager on one of several hands and then move their wager from hand-to-hand as cards are being dealt all the while avoiding Joker Cards and having his/her wager reside on the hand with the highest five card poker ranking once all hands have received five cards.
 2. The method of claim 1 where the gaming surface is divided into several side-by-side areas. These areas are called Hands.
 3. The method of claim 1 where each Hand is divided into two regions where the (a) first region is capable of containing five cards face up and the (b) second region which is adjoined to the first region holds the monies/tokens wagered by players on cards in the first region.
 4. The method of claim 1 where the dealer/banker shuffles the (a) fifty-four card deck of cards while players indicate their willingness to participate by placing an (b) amount of monies called the Initial Wager on any one of the Hands described in claim 2 by placing the Initial Wager in the Hand's region as described in claim 3B.
 5. The method of claim 1 where play begins with the dealer/banker dealing the first series of cards which is one card face up to each of the Hand's region described in claim 3A.
 6. The method of claim 1 where if at any time a Joker Card is dealt to a Hand that hand is killed and becomes a Dead Hand and (a) all wagers on the Dead Hand's adjoined region as described in claim 3B will be lost to the banker and removed immediately putting (b) Players losing their wager in this manner out the game wile at the same time (c) preventing additional cards will be dealt the Dead Hand and (d) blocking remaining players from moving onto or over the Dead Hand.
 7. The method of claim 1 where after a series of cards are dealt play continues with all remaining players take an action by either (a) moving his/her wager left to an adjacent remaining Hand as described in claim 2 or (b) moving his/her wager right to an adjacent Hand as described in claim 2 or (c) leaving his/her wager where it is or (d) removing his/her wager from the gaming surface.
 8. A method of claim 1 where the dealer continues play by dealing the second series of cards which is one card face up to each of the remaining (not dead) Hands so that each Hand now contains two cards.
 9. A method of claim 1 where each remaining player again takes one of the four actions as described in claim
 7. 10. A method of claim 1 where the dealer again continues play by dealing the third series of cards which is one card face up to each of the remaining (not dead) Hands so that each Hand now contains three cards.
 11. A method of claim 1 where each remaining player again takes one of the four actions as described in claim
 7. 12. A method of claim 1 where the dealer continues play by dealing the fourth series of cards which is one card face up to each of the remaining (not dead) Hands so that each Hand now contains four cards.
 13. A method of claim 1 where each remaining player again takes one of the four actions as described in claim
 7. 14. A method of claim 1 where the dealer continues play by dealing the fifth and final series of cards which is one card face up to each of the remaining (not dead) Hands so that each Hand now contains five cards.
 15. A method of claim 1 where the dealer examines cards in all the remaining (not dead) Hands described in claim 3 in order to determine which Hand(s) contains the five cards that have the highest five card poker hand raking.
 16. A method of claim 1 where the Hand(s) as described in claim 2 determined by dealer to have the highest five card poker ranking is designated as the High Hand(s).
 17. A method of claim 1 where all Hands as described in claim 2 that are not the High Hand(s) will be designated as Loosing Hands and all wagers contained within the region described in claim 3B of the Loosing Hands are removed from the gaming surface and claimed by the dealer/banker.
 18. A method of claim 1 where all players with a wager in the region described in claim 3B contained within the area of the High Hand(s) as described in claim 16 are designated as Winning Players.
 19. A method of claim 1 where the formula [Returned to Player]=[Current Wager]+([Current Wager]*[Multiplier]) represents the method used by the dealer/banker to calculate the amount of monies each Winning Player and can be expressed as the amount of monies equal to the current amount of the player's wager plus an amount that is the player's current wager multiplied by a Multiplier value.
 20. A method of claim 1 where the Multiplier used in claim 19 is derived from a single Odds Chart.
 21. A method of claim 1 where the Odds Chart contains a list of entries each of which represents a five card poker hands ranking category where the list is ordered highest to lowest probability the categories of which can be described as Nothing, Low Pair, High Pair, Two Pair, Three of a Kind, Straight, Flush, Full House, Four of a Kind, Straight. Flush, and Royal Flush.
 22. The method of claim 1 where each entry in the Odds Chart as described in claim 21 has an associated Multiplier value as described in claim 20 the value which is determined by the dealer/banker in advance of game play.
 23. A method of claim 2 where the number of Hands set out on the gaming surface can vary and is determined in advance by the dealer/banker.
 24. The method of claim 4 where (a) the card deck of fifty-four cards used in the game is comprised of (b) two Joker Cards (c) and four suits identified as, hearts, clubs, spades, and diamonds (d) with each suite containing thirteen cards each valued as 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, jack, queen, king, and ace.
 25. The method of claim 7A where a player can move his/her wager left to an adjacent Hand area as described in claim 2 providing that (a) the adjacent Hand area as described in claim 2 is not a Dead Hand as described in claim 6 and (b) the player increases his/her wager by adding to his/her wager an amount equal to the Initial Wager as described in claim 4B.
 26. The method of claim 7B where a player can move his/her wager right to an adjacent Hand area as described in claim 2 providing that (a) the adjacent Hand area as described in claim 2 is not a Dead Hand as described in claim 6 and (b) the player increases his/her wager by adding an to his/her wager amount equal to the Initial Wager as described in claim 4B.
 27. The method of claim 7C where the dealer will remove and amount from the player's wager that is equal to the amount of the player's Initial Wager as described in claim 4B if the player chooses to leave his/her wager where it is and providing that the current amount of the wager is greater than the Initial Wager as described in claim 4B.
 28. The method of claim 7D where the player can remove his/her wager from the gaming surface provide his/her current wager amount is equal to the player's Initial Wager as described in claim 4B.
 29. The method of claim 20 where instead of a single odds chart the Multiplier value selected in claim 21 and applied as described in claim 19 is derived from one of several odds charts each with unique Multiplier values and each of which is associated to a specific Hand as described in claim
 2. 30. The method of claim 2 where the position and amount of the wagers made by players can be placed and tracked electronically.
 31. The method of claim 1 where one or more Hand areas as described in claim 2 can be added to the gaming surface and employ alternate ways for players to move their wagers onto these Hands areas.
 32. The method of claim 4A and claim 24 where and additional fifty-fifth card is added to the card deck which so that when this fifty-fifth card is dealt to a Hand a Bonus Game is started for each player that has wagers on that Hand.
 33. The method of claim 1 where said game is played on a card table.
 34. The method of claim 1 where said card game is played electronically.
 35. The method of claim 1 where said card game is played on a computer.
 36. The method of claim 1 where said card game is played on a hand-held electronic gaming or communication device.
 37. The method of claim 1 where said card game is played over the internet.
 38. A method of claim 32 where the Bonus Game implements a method to increase the amount of monies player involved in the bonus can win.
 39. A method of claim 38 where the method used in the Bonus Game is based on random chance.
 40. A method of claim 38 where the method used in the Bonus Game is based on player's skill.
 41. A method of claim 38 where the method used in the Bonus Game is based on a fixed formula.
 42. A method of claim 32 where instead of a Bonus Game being launched when a player is dealt the fifty-fifth card as described in claim 32 it forces affected players to move their wagers to a specific Hand. 